The concept of the "fear of God" is a central theme throughout the Bible, serving as a profound motive for obedience among believers. This fear is not merely a sense of dread or terror but encompasses reverence, awe, and respect for the Almighty. It is a recognition of God's holiness, justice, and power, which compels individuals to live in accordance with His will.

Old Testament Foundations

The fear of God is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with wisdom and the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This verse highlights the foundational role that the fear of God plays in guiding one's understanding and actions.

In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 , Moses exhorts the Israelites, "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?" Here, the fear of God is directly linked to obedience, love, and service, emphasizing that reverence for God should manifest in a life of faithful adherence to His commandments.

The narrative of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22 also illustrates the fear of God as a motive for obedience. In Genesis 22:12 , the angel of the LORD says, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me." Abraham's willingness to obey God's command, even at great personal cost, demonstrates his profound reverence and trust in God.

New Testament Continuation

The New Testament continues to affirm the fear of God as a vital aspect of the Christian life. In Acts 9:31 , the early church is described as "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit," indicating that reverence for God was integral to the community's growth and spiritual health.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently emphasizes the importance of fearing God as a motive for obedience. In Philippians 2:12 , he writes, "Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now even more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This exhortation underscores the seriousness with which believers are to approach their spiritual journey, motivated by a deep respect for God's authority and judgment.

Theological Implications

The fear of God as a motive for obedience is not rooted in a servile fear of punishment but in a filial fear that arises from a relationship with a loving and just God. It acknowledges God's sovereignty and the believer's accountability before Him. This fear leads to a life of holiness, as seen in 2 Corinthians 7:1 : "Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Moreover, the fear of God fosters a sense of humility and dependence on His grace. It is a recognition that apart from God, one can do nothing (John 15:5). This reverence is not only a deterrent against sin but also a catalyst for spiritual growth and maturity.

Practical Application

In practical terms, the fear of God motivates believers to align their lives with His commandments, pursue righteousness, and shun evil. Proverbs 8:13 declares, "To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech." This verse encapsulates the transformative power of fearing God, as it leads to a rejection of sin and a commitment to living in a manner that honors Him.

The fear of God also encourages believers to seek His wisdom and guidance in all aspects of life. James 1:5 assures, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." This promise is rooted in the understanding that a reverent fear of God opens the door to divine insight and direction.

In summary, the fear of God is a profound and multifaceted motive for obedience, deeply embedded in the biblical narrative. It calls believers to a life of reverence, holiness, and faithful adherence to God's will, shaping their conduct and character in accordance with His divine purposes.Leviticus 19:14,32
You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
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Leviticus 25:17,36,43
You shall not therefore oppress one another; but you shall fear your God: for I am the LORD your God.
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Numbers 32:15
For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and you shall destroy all this people.
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Deuteronomy 6:13-15
You shall fear the LORD your God, and serve him, and shall swear by his name.
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Deuteronomy 7:4
For they will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.
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Deuteronomy 8:5,6
You shall also consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.
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Deuteronomy 10:12,13,20
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
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Deuteronomy 13:4,6-11
You shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and join to him.
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Deuteronomy 14:23
And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herds and of your flocks; that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
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Deuteronomy 15:9
Beware that there be not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to the LORD against you, and it be sin to you.
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Deuteronomy 17:11-13
According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do: you shall not decline from the sentence which they shall show you, to the right hand, nor to the left.
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Deuteronomy 19:16-20
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
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Deuteronomy 21:18-21
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not listen to them:
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Deuteronomy 28:14-68
And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
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Deuteronomy 31:11-13
When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
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Joshua 23:11-16
Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.
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1 Samuel 12:14,15,24,25
If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God:
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Job 13:21
Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.
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Job 31:1-4,13-15,23
I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think on a maid?
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Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
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Isaiah 1:20
But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
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Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
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Jeremiah 22:5
But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself, said the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
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Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
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Luke 12:4,5
And I say to you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
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2 Corinthians 5:10,11
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.
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2 Timothy 4:1,2
I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
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2 Peter 3:10-12
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
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Revelation 14:9,10
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
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God Willing that all Men Should be Saved.
... day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Had the influence of fear, operating
to duty, been wrong, God would not have urged it as a motive to obedience. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xvii god willing that.htm

Characters Will be Disclosed, and Justice Awarded.
... otherwise fear would not be urged as a motive to obedience. "Fear him who is able
to destroy soul and body in ... Here God certainly makes a difference between them ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xvi characters will be.htm

How Divine Love Makes Use of all the Passions and Affections of ...
... The appetite for food is made very spiritual if before gratifying it we give it
the motive of love:"Ah! ... If the fear be excessive: Ah! O God, my eternal Father ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xx how divine love.htm

The Lamb of God, the Great Atonement
... to his Deliverer; and furnishes with an abiding constraining motive, for cheerful ...
can fear a worm like yourself, but live without the fear of God; if you ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xvi the lamb of.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... mercies to the world, for a motive, "Fear ye not me ... are drawn from their respect
of, and obedience to, the ... doth bid that indeed thou shouldest fear God, yet it ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

God's Barriers against Man's Sin
... "Fear ye not me ... to the lowly regenerated heart, must necessarily form a very strong
motive to obedience ... me to obedience as the thought that I owe so much to God. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/gods barriers against mans sin.htm

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... produce holiness by legal motives, the very fear of failure ... the considerations of
the gospel, they view God just as ... No motive in the law can be exhibited to a ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

1 Timothy i. 9
... harshness; we should speak and act with all possible kindness; because love, rather
than fear, love both of God and man, is the motive which we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture x 1 timothy i.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Kill the Innocent?
... manifested by sin, since on the contrary "the fear of the ... whose life is taken be
received by God into glory. ... great care, so as to find a motive for acquitting ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 9.htm

The Requisites of Merit
... performed in the state of grace, even if they are performed from some other, truly
supernatural though inferior motive, such as obedience, the fear of God, etc ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 2 the requisites of.htm

What does it mean to have the fear of God? | GotQuestions.org

How can I overcome the fear of death? How can I stop being scared of dying? | GotQuestions.org

Is there any reason to fear going into a cemetery / graveyard? | GotQuestions.org

Fear: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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